Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

All university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.

Do you think the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

It is often argued that university undergraduate courses should require students to spend some time either studying abroad or gaining practical experience through a work placement. Although this may create certain difficulties, I believe that the advantages of such programmes outweigh the disadvantages.

One major benefit of studying or working abroad is that students can develop valuable practical and interpersonal skills. Academic knowledge alone may not fully prepare young people for the workplace, whereas a work placement allows them to apply what they have learned in real-world situations. For example, an engineering student who spends several months working for a construction company can gain practical experience that would be difficult to obtain in a classroom. This can also improve their employment prospects after graduation.

Studying abroad can provide similar benefits, particularly by helping students become more independent and culturally aware. Living in another country requires students to communicate with people from different backgrounds and adapt to unfamiliar situations. As a result, they can become more confident and open-minded. For instance, a student from India studying in Germany may have to adjust to different teaching methods, social customs and ways of communicating. These experiences can be highly useful in an increasingly international job market.

However, there are some disadvantages to making such programmes compulsory. The most significant issue is financial pressure. Travelling, accommodation and living expenses abroad can be expensive, and not every student or family can afford these costs. In addition, some students may have personal or academic reasons for remaining at their university. A compulsory placement could therefore create unnecessary stress, particularly for students who have family responsibilities or financial difficulties.

Despite these drawbacks, I believe the overall benefits are greater. Universities could reduce the disadvantages by offering work placements within students' home countries, providing financial assistance and allowing students to choose between studying abroad and gaining local work experience.

In conclusion, although compulsory overseas study or work placements may create financial and practical challenges, they can significantly improve students' professional skills, independence and cultural awareness. Therefore, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, provided that universities offer flexible and affordable options.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, with specific examples provided for both the benefits (engineering student example) and the drawbacks (financial and personal constraints). The conclusion effectively synthesizes your position while offering a nuanced solution, which demonstrates a high level of task engagement. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'Despite these drawbacks'. Referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct points. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text, demonstrating a high level of coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'increasingly international job market', 'employment prospects', and 'financial pressure' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would push the score into the 8.0-9.0 range. However, there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, and the language used is consistently natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('provided that...') and contrastive structures ('Although this may create...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex ideas. There are no significant errors that cause confusion or strain the reader. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response, reflecting a strong command of English grammar.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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